Norwegian artist collective Origami Republika is apparently the originator of the “acoustic laptop” concept: DIY wooden boxes with found objects to be activated by the musician, with exquisite references to Duchamp’s A Bruit Secret or various Fluxus suitcases – think Joe Jones. To hear how acoustic laptops sound, try this demo by Origami Boe.

[source: O.R.’s Flickr gallery]

Sudden Infant – Parental Guidance C20 cassette appended on found fairy tale book, published by Soja-Sauce Bolognese‎, ref.SSB10, Germany, 2009. Limited to 50 copies

Augusto de Campos - Música de Invenção, published by Editora Perspectiva, São Paulo, Brazil, 1998.

Música de Invenção (or, Creative Music) collects articles written by Brazilian concrete poet Augusto de Campos between 1957 and 1997 as well as collages and designs by the author, like the Schönberg portrait above. 

Chapter 1, titled “Palavra e Música”, is about Renaissance music in Provence (Northern Italy and Southern France) and its influence on some 20th century composers, like Ezra Pound, especially his Le Testament chamber opera. This chapter also examines Virgil Thomson’s Four Saints in Three Acts, with a libretto by Gertrude Stein ; American vilolinist Olga Rudge ; and Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire. Chapter 2 “Radicais da Música” gathers articles on some of 20th century most original composers like Erik Satie, Scott Joplin, Walter Smetak, Anton Webern and Edgar Varèse. Chapter 3 “Musicaos” collects articles on John Cage. Chapter 4 “Pós-Música” examines the work of Giacinto Scelsi, George Antheil, Luigi Nono, Conlon Nancarrow, Henry Cowell and Galina Ustvolskaia.

The boook looks like a great introduction to some of the most original composers of 20th century and an English translation seems necessary.

More images from the book on this Flickr page.
A detailed review in English is here.

Joe Jones – Music Box, artist multiple, edition limited to 35 copies, published by Editioni Pari & Dispari, Italy, 1974.

Spotted on eBay this week. Austrian seller told me he expected 5,000 euros (~$6,500) for this item, based on previous auctions. Not sure he eventually found a buyer.

Isao Tomita – Bird Chorus b/w Animation Fountain (08:07)
7-inch single released by RCA Japan, 1985

Rare single – not listed on Discogs’ 100+ Tomita release list– by Japanese mellow electronic composer Isao Tomita (b.1932). These tracks were commissioned for the sound environment inside the Suntory Pavilion during Expo’ 85 world fair in Tsukuba, Japan. While Animation Fountain is in the vein of 1984’s Dawn Chorus LP – that is, classical music on Moog and Casio synths, the A side, Bird Chorus (not on the LP), is a kind of oddity based on sampled and reconstituted bird songs only. Japanese brewery Suntory campaigned for the protection of birds since the mid 1970s and used to print pictures of birds on their beer cans (see here).

Stunning (uncredited) artwork as well.

Een groot dood dier (or, A Great Dead Beast), by Stichting Toneelgroep Studio, Grand Theater Gooiland, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 1963

Playwright: Bert Schierbeek
Director: Kees van Iersel
Stage design: Karel Appel
Music: Jan Boerman and Dick Raaijmakers

Endre Tót - Gladness Writings 1973–1976, artist book published by Yellow Now, Liège, Belgium, 1977 (from personal collection).